Family Resources Survey - Northern Ireland

The Family Resources Survey collects detailed information on the incomes and circumstances of private households from April to March each year. The survey has been carried out in Great Britain since 1992, but in 2002-03 it was introduced to Northern Ireland for the first time.

The department produce a number of publications from the survey data:

Northern Ireland Family Resources SurveyA summary of the information collected from the Northern Ireland Family Resources survey with key themes covering: Income and State Support receipt, disability and tenure.

Northern Ireland Poverty BulletinHigh level figures on poverty in Northern Ireland as determined by disposable income. It covers both before and after housing costs.

Households Below Average Income - Northern IrelandMore detailed information on poverty in Northern Ireland as determined by disposable income. It covers both before and after housing costs, to take account of variations in housing costs that do not correspond to comparable variations in the quality of housing.

Following public consultation in 2009 the following two publications were discontinued:

Individual income Series - Northern IrelandInformation on weekly incomes of men and women in Northern Ireland by family type, source of income, age, marital status and employment status.

Income Related Benefits, Estimates of Take-Up - Northern Ireland Information on the take-up of the main income-related benefits in Northern Ireland: Income Support, Minimum Income Guarantee/Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance (Income-Based).

Historic publications are available on request by contacting the Analytical Services Unit. Contact details are given near the bottom of the page.

Family Resources Survey Grossing Review 2014

In 2014 a grossing review was carried out to all Family Resources Survey and Households Below Average Income datasets to incorporate the 2011 census information that became available. The following statistical note provides a summary of this review and the subsequent effect on the back series datasets:

Family Resources Survey/Households Below Average Income User Group

Regular engagement with users enhances the value of the Northern Ireland Family Resources Survey. A FRS/HBAI User Group was set up to meet biannually to facilitate user engagement. Membership of the user group consists of representatives from each funding body, providers of the survey and external users from a range of sectors.

The terms of reference and the minutes of the User Group meetings are available below:

The survey contains information which will be of interest to researchers and analysts from a wide range of disciplines in both the public and private sectors. The database can be accessed through the UK Data Service